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The body of a man who died while fishing southeast Snake Key was recovered today.

Charles T. Fletcher, 79 or Gainesville, was fishing with a friend Friday morning when he stood, lost his balance and fell out of the boat. Fletcher, who was wearing a life vest at the time, was unconscious when his body was recovered.

John Edwards, clad in Spandex shorts and a torn T-shirt adorned with an airbrushed hog in a canoe, smiled as he paddled down the tea-colored waters of the Waccasassa River, effortlessly hefting his thin frame over the fallen log at the end of the race he’s competed in for 34 years.
“It’s a fun race to do,” the St. Petersburg resident said after coming in first Saturday in the Experienced Class division of the 35th Annual Wild Hog Canoe & Kayak Race in Otter Creek.

My name is Marissa (Haldeman) DeHaven and I would like to take this opportunity to announce my candidacy for Levy County School Board, District 2. I am a life-long resident of Levy County. I reside in Cedar Key with my husband, Mark, and our four children; Micah, 5, and Maya, Max and Marina, our two-year-old triplets.

Robby McCabe of Cedar Key takes the Oath of Enlistment for the U.S. Air Force Reserve on Saturday, April 28, on the second floor porch of the Cedar Key Library overlooking the arts festival. McCabe is entering the Delayed Enlistment Program and is scheduled to attend Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, Texas in September.

Plans to launch drones from Cedar Key’s George T. Lewis Airport this spring to gather data on 945,000 acres of seagrass beds have been put on hold until the fall.
Levy County officials have been notified by Dr. Paul R. Carlson Jr. of Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute that NASA is not able to support the unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, being deployed to Cedar Key.
Carlson, in an email to county officials, said, “NASA was forced to cancel their contract with the company providing the instrument payload for the UAVs.”

They took the kids' money, but the Suwannee River Fair, with the help of Perkins State Bank, will see to it the 347 kids who sold animals at the March show get their checks later this week.
"They're going to get their money," said Loran Brookings, president of the Suwannee River Fair Association which puts on the annual youth livestock show and sale.

Reports had crowd counts slightly below last year’s tremendous turnout, but given the 90-degree weather and high gas prices, attendance was good. Food vendors in the park reported steady sales, but most did not sell out. The artists reported higher sales on Saturday and were overall very happy with the event and the organization of the show. Most expressed their desire to come back next year because of the wonderful hospitality provided by the entire community.
Winners:
Best of Show – Rolly Ray Reel (mixed media) from Maitland.

Spring is the best time of year to bring crowds outdoors to the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges (NWR). Recently, a group that wants to soak up Florida’s history and heritage made its way to the Nature Coast for its own kind of exploration outside.
Members of the Florida Humanties Council arrived April 12 night for a three-day stay.

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts will continue for Cedar Key through the efforts of Sheltering Hands, Inc., a not-for-profit organization.
The good news is there is a $25,000 grant for TNR in zip codes 32625 and 32683. Now is your opportunity to ask for assistance with the feral/stray cats in your neighborhood. This grant allows for neuter/spay and vaccinations at no cost to you, though donations are appreciated since transportations costs are not covered.